KLH HTA-9005 Five-Piece Surround Speaker System

• 5-piece home-theater speaker system
• 4 (front and rear) bookshelf satellites, 1 center-channel speaker
• For use with any Dolby Digital, Pro Logic, or DTS receiver
• 100 watts per channel maximum power handling
• 1-year warranty

Four identical two-way satellite speakers (front and rear left/right) compose the heart of the HTA-9005. Each satellite houses a four-inch woofer and 0.625-inch piezo-poly tweeter. The system's center channel employs an identical driver complement, but its tweeter sits in the speaker's center, flanked by not one but two woofers. Using identical, timbre-matched drivers is one of the keys to good surround sound--kudos to KLH for adhering to this design principle.

Articulate and well-balanced vocal reproduction is another element essential to sound reproduction for both music and movies, and this, too, is one of the HTA-9005's strengths. With stereo CDs and DVD-based movies, the midrange is clear and inherently natural. This system is not as detailed as more expensive rigs, and it does exhibit a hint of boxiness, but these are minor flaws for equipment in this price range.

In the surround mode, the center channel rivets dialogue to the screen, and front left-to-right pans (passing cars, helicopters, and the like) exhibit the seamless tonal quality we expect. The satellites do a fine job of opening up a well-defined, three-dimensional soundscape.

The HTA-9005 does not come with a subwoofer, and you will want to add one if you expect any bass response below 50 Hz--this is especially true if you like blockbuster action movies or music with a strong beat.

We enjoy both music and movies and think speakers should be suitable for both. For a surprisingly low cost, KLH's HTA-9005 delivers the goods. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Good sound
• Great value
• Wire included

Cons:

• Lacking refined detail
• Limited bass response